FTC Chairman Tim Muris Promises to
Step Up Protections for ID Theft Victims
Muris Speaks to Eighth Annual National Conference in Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., March 21, 2002//: Today, FTC Chairman Tim Muris introduced the agency's new plan to combat identity theft, and discussed a range of issues including a national "do-not-call" list, SPAM control and the FTC's privacy accomplishments while addressing the Eighth Annual National Conference, presented by Privacy & American Business and Privacy Council, Inc.
"Identity theft tops the list of consumer fraud concerns," Muris said. In October 2001, the FTC made promises to improve protections for victims of privacy-violation offenses, including identity theft. The FTC currently has a hotline that both ID theft victims and police may call to report theft and request assistance. The FTC has developed a national ID theft affidavit to take the burden off the victims and give them the opportunity to easily report violations to their credit card companies, banks, etc., who may then investigate the fraud. The affidavit form is available online and is downloadable at www.consumer.gov/idtheftaffidavit.htm.
Among the other FTC initiatives is a security workshop planned for May 20-21, 2002, led by Commissioner Orson Swindle, to educate law enforcement officials on ID theft.
Muris also welcomed comments on the FTC's proposed national do-not-call registry to amend the Telemarketing Sales Rule.
Additionally, the FTC has taken action to stop deceptive SPAM. The FTC collects SPAM and has a "refrigerator," or a database, of over 8 million SPAM messages. Muris vowed to "take the refrigerator and put the spammers on ice." He has already begun to do so by obtaining a temporary restraining order against an organization selling invalid domain names and cracking down on illegal chain e-mails that bait respondents to contact the FTC.
For a tape of Chairman Muris' speech, contact Irene Oujo, P&AB, at (201) 996-1154 or . For more information about the Eighth Annual National Conference, visit www.ManagingthePrivacyRevolution.com.
About Privacy & American Business
Privacy & American Business, (pandab.org & www.PrivacyExchange.org), is an activity of the non-profit Center for Social & Legal Research, a non-profit, non-partisan public policy think tank exploring U.S. and global issues of consumer and employee privacy and data protection since its launch in 1993. P&AB was the first to chart and analyze for business the rise of privacy from a second-tier concern to a front-burner issue and to provide opportunities in programs and meetings to assist businesses in understanding the privacy environment as it is evolving. Members of the press may contact Irene Oujo at (201) 996-1154 or or visit pandab.org.
About Privacy Council, Inc.
Privacy Council is one of the nation's leading providers of privacy products including: Knowledge Products that walk a company through the creation of a privacy management process; P3P Compliance Programs that help companies create, manage and inventory compact policies; Privacy Scan, a detailed Web site examination of privacy risks; Privacy Monitor, a monthly managed privacy program; Privacy Survival Kit, nineteen reports and self-assessment tools; and Cyber Risk Management Services, a comprehensive program for underwriters insuring Web site security. We also publish Privacy Daily News, a subscription-based e-newsletter. Headquartered in Richardson, Texas, Privacy Council also has offices in Washington, D.C. and Philadelphia. Press may contact Sean McCabe (ext 110) or Peter Robbio (ext. 116) at 703-683-5004 or visit www.privacycouncil.com.